FAQ's

What is the County Development Plan and why is it necessary?The County Development Plan is a blueprint for the future development of the county. It sets out a vision of how the county will grow over the next six years, in a proper, planned and sustainable manner.Why now? As the Planning Authority for the county, Kerry County Council has a duty to make a Development Plan for the county and to review it every six years. The legal basis for Development Plans is contained in the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2013. The current Plan was formally made on the 6th April 2009 and became policy from the 4th May 2009.What areas does the County Development Plan cover? Everything from population growth and projected amount of land needed to house that population growth, to employment and economic development, parks and playgrounds, transport, water & wastewater infrastructure, tourism, natural resources, community development, telecommunications, culture, environment, rights of way, retail strategy. Everything of note that happens in the county is covered by the County Development PlanHow is it relevant to me? If you live in Kerry or visit the county, the County Development Plan impacts you. Where you live, or where you or your family hope to live into the future. How you travel to work or school, the amenities available in your community, whether libraries, beaches, parks, playgrounds or walking trails. The quality of the environment surrounding you, the development of towns and villages around the county, promotion of industry and employment, protection and promotion of our culture and where you go to shop. What has happened so far? In March 2013, a review of the current plan started, looking back at what was achieved during the course of that plan, and how that will feed into the new plan. An Issues Document was sent out, asking the public to get involved at the early stages of the new plan, to make them aware of the issues that need to be considered in the Plan, to promote discussion and make people more aware of what was coming. A number of public information submissions were held and 56 submissions were received from the public at this stage. These submissions helped in the first draft of the plan, which was put before the elected councillors in September 2013. The councillors considered the initial draft over the course of three meetings, and reached agreement on the final Draft Plan. This is what’s going out on final display now.What happens next? The Plan goes on Public Display on Friday, January 24th for the next 10 weeks. At this stage members of the public can view the plan, discuss it and submit their comments and views on the Draft Plan.Where can I see the Draft Plan? · Online at cdp.kerrycoco.ie · On CD-ROM (available to purchase) · At Kerry County Council’s offices in Rathass, Tralee · Libraries around Kerry (Online)Can I talk to someone about the Plan? Certainly. We are arranging a number of public meetings around the county where members of Kerry County Council’s Planning Department will be in attendance to discuss the Draft Plan.I’m looking for planning permission for my house. Can this be addressed in the County Development Plan? No. The County Development Plan looks at the county as a whole, rather than individual cases.I’m not in favour of some of the ideas proposed in the Plan. What can I do? That’s the thinking behind the public consultation. This period of public consultation allows anybody to make a submission in favour of a part of the Plan, or against a part of it, or looking to amend part of the Plan.And then what? Once the 10-week public consultation period is over, all the submissions received during this time will be gathered and combined into a Manager’s Report. This will go before the elected councillors for discussion. The Councillors will probably agree with some of the proposed changes to the Draft Plan and disagree with others. Any changes will go out again for another round of public consultation, allowing the public their view on these changes. These will come back before the Councillors once more before the Plan is finally adopted.